Untreated High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) is the Biggest Single Risk Factor for Stroke

Lifestyle measures and the right medication can help reduce high blood pressure.

There are some steps that you and your doctor can take together

Get your blood pressure checked

High blood pressure causes the arteries to fur up (atherosclerosis) and puts extra strain on the blood vessels. You may not know if you have high blood pressure, so you should have it checked regularly. (A normal healthy adult blood pressure is less than 140/90mmHg.)

Make sure other medical conditions are controlled

A number of other medical problems increase your risk of stroke, including:

• Heart disease;
• Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
• High cholesterol; and
• Diabetes

Your doctor can prescribe medication to help keep these conditions under control.